Ruston, La. (KTVE/KARD) — Ruston High School basketball has gone under new leadership after hiring Lashonda -smith cooper and Marcus Jackson as the new head basketball coaches. The Bearcats held a meet and greet event with the community Wednesday evening, and with the amount of championship pedigree rolling into the Bearcats gym, the boys and girls basketball programs could be on the verge of becoming one of the most well-rounded sports powerhouses in the entire state.

Both coaches are coming from schools where they left a lasting legacy, Cooper packed her bags and came over from Northwood-Lena High School where everything she touched seemingly turned to gold. She presented the school their first ever state title appearance and then went three more years consecutive years and rose to the top of the mountain in 2022 with the school’s first state championship ever.

Jackson on the other hand had a light suitcase driving only 17 miles from Arcadia high school where he was held in high regard with the heights he took the program. He helped the Hornets deliver their first state championship in 2016 and then doubled back with another title in 2021.

When the Bearcats found out they would be filling two vacancies with both former Ruston high School Basketball coaches Meridith Graf and Ryan Bond stepping down they targeted a couple of the biggest fish in the sea and reeled in both. Cooper also expressed how hard it was for her to walk away with all that she achieved at her previous stop.

“When I say a lot of tears, and a lot of sleepless nights. It was really tough because of the love and relationships that I had with everybody in the community, at the school and all the players, so it was really tough on me,” said Cooper.

Jackson is taking over a team that has advanced to the semifinals in back-to-back years, but he also has the pleasure of having access to the man that was at the head of it. Bond is now serving in an administration office position at Ruston, and Jackson intends to lean on him for guidance while also bringing his own swagger to add to the mix.

“They have been on a good run. I think one of the biggest things is having coach Bond here so that I can pick his brain on some ideas of what was successful? what are some things that he might look at and change? — and going to the top 28 like I said earlier I got seven runners-up and they’re hard to come by,” said Jackson. “If you work hard and prepare for this moment, we hopefully can get back to that spot.”

Taking over new programs can be tense for parents, fans, and even players. Cooper said winning doesn’t happen overnight, but her goal for a team that was knocked out in the second round of last season’s playoffs is to elevate the standard of Lady Bearcat Basketball.

“Believe in the process. Of course, it’s going to be different, it’s going to be some things that are really new to them, but as long as they can buy in and not only believe in me but believe in themselves and believe in each other then there’s no telling how far we can go,” said Cooper.

Jackson also had a simple message to let everyone know that if the Bearcats are going to win a title, they must have full trust in him that it will get done the right way.

“When we all got the same agenda and are on the same accord, parents, administrators, coaches everybody — everyone can have success,” said Jackson “I fight for my kids. I love my kids and I want them to succeed at the end of the day, not just in basketball.”